Painted face and plastic cover.

You see her and your heart skips a beat .You call out her name
but the wind carries it away.

You call again and she turns slowly .When she faces you,
You see her tear streaked cheeks and running make-up,
old make-up.

You stare at her longer and notice the tired eyes that have lost their will ,
you see the weary lines around her dead eyes and pursed lips.

You say her name again , asking if its her.
She stares at you blankly and starts to turn away .

You realize that her tears are not for others , not for the past , present or future ,
But that they are selfish tears filled with self pity .

As you watch her walk away , with her defeated slouch and shuffle feet ,
you know its an act and that if you ever saw her on the street she would not stop
to say hello nor would she even glance in your direction . She would not even dare for it would tarnish her already pathetic existence.

- Leila Davis